Chris Oddo| @thefanchild | Sunday, May 4, 2025
Jack Drapera first-class clay cup? You won’t hear many experts proclaiming before he reached the Madrid final, but now the 23-year-old Briton has shown his best performance on the red clay, and many believe we’re seeing the beginning of Draper coming to the surface.
He was ostensibly 10-12 years old before this week, but after reaching the finals of the Madrid Masters, the days of suboptimal clay field results may be good and can indeed be true in the rear view.
Most importantly, Draper himself believes in narrative.
“I just have to step on the door to show that I can compete at such a very high level on this ostensibly,” Draper said.
Draper thinks he’s just at the tip of the iceberg after winning his first 20 wins in his first career.
“I think this has been proven this week and showed it to others,” he said, adding that he still has plenty of room to grow. “I think the biggest positive fact that I still take away is that I’m still learning how to move and play on this surface, and I’m right there. I’m competing with the best clay courters, this is the best person on this surface in the world.
“I was greatly encouraged from this and I hope I can continue in Rome next week [then at] French. ”
victory Casper Ruud Say the idea of many of us on the podium after beating Draper 7-5 3-6 6-4 in the Sunday final.
“You’re a young player, you’ve become all the superficial players,” Rude said. “You have a threat to everyone right now – it doesn’t matter when – I think the sky is your limit. Fortunately, it’s my day today.”
“You’re a young player, you’ve become all the superficial players. You have a threat to everyone right now – nothing matters, when isn’t it – I think the sky is your limit. Fortunately, it’s my day today.” pic.twitter.com/nriyyohmb0
– Tennis (@tennis_now) May 4, 2025
Draper said success on clay could allow him to release him on faster surfaces, which he has historically been more lethal. It certainly did wonders for his rankings. The British will be in the top 5 in Monday’s ATP rankings, the fourth British to join the elite group.
“I think it also gives me confidence, maybe it will surface faster, I like it more,” he said. “Thinking, ‘Wow, I do that on clay, I can take out something on other surfaces, too.'”
